Music Discovery Monday – 10/3/16

Music Discovery Monday shines a light on artists that are not getting the radio attention that they deserve, while also showcasing new singles by established bands that are likely to get airplay in the future.

In addition to appearing on the embedded YouTube playlist below, all songs featured on Music Discovery Monday can be listened to individually by clicking on the hyper-linked song titles above each review.

Many things can inspire you to check out a new artist. Because of Music Discovery Monday, I’m always on the hunt for music that is flying below the radar. One of the best ways to find these hidden gems in on social media. If you believe in the power of signs (which seems to happen more after a loss), some are just too striking to ignore. So what does this have to do with “Unbreakable” by Thirteen Reasons? Personally speaking…a lot.

Having lost both parents, there are ebbs and flows throughout the year where the realization of the loss strengthens depending on the calendar. Early October is one of the more difficult times of the year for me, as it marks the anniversary of my mother’s passing and her birthday as well. It should also be noted that 13 is a number that has deep meaning to the bond that I shared with my father.

As I scrolled through my Facebook page recently, I came upon a post by Thirteen Reasons drummer, Daren Pfeifer, talking about the loss of his mother a year-and-a-half ago, and his dedication of “Unbreakable” to her. A song that is dedicated to the recent loss of someone’s mother, by a band named Thirteen Reasons? Was this one of those signs that I mentioned above?

I listened to “Unbreakable,” and then immediately reached out to Pfeifer to discuss featuring the song on Music Discovery Monday. The signs may have inspired me to listen to the song, but the music itself is what inspired me to feature it in this forum. Opening with a cool, Everlast vibe, the song quickly transitions into a powerful melodic rocker with an uplifting message.

Formed this year, these Philly rockers aim to “bring rock back to where it belongs, inside the hearts and souls of anyone who needs a victory, a good time or an escape.” They’re off to a good start with “Unbreakable.” Expect to see more of Thirteen Reasons on Hard Rock Daddy in the coming months.

“Unbreakable” is definitely a self-empowerment song. I didn’t strive for it, but it kind of turned out that way. Writing has always taken me to a place I needed to go, not just where I wanted to go. I was basically pissed off because of things not going my way for a very long time. Everyone has a talent or particular skill they can hone in on. If we can only get to that place each day where we feel completely centered with a raging peace, we can accomplish whatever we want. That’s what I struggle with. I felt cornered, disrespected, rejected, but powerful. It pulls from many of the struggles I’ve been going through lately, as well as the ones others close to me are facing, especially dealing with loss, grief or unresolved matters. We can all use a lift. I know I can. ‘Unbreakable’ is knowing nothing can hurt you and nothing can stand in your way. If you knock me down, I’ll still get up, no matter what. This is what ‘Unbreakable’ is for us, and I hope listeners will interpret it any way they want.”

It’s interesting how different people interpret music. I was intrigued when a friend shared Klover Jane’s “Walk Away” on Facebook, and described it as having a “Seattle sound.” While some incredible bands have originated in Seattle, labeling a band with a “Seattle sound” can be a double-edged sword because it can paint a very specific picture of a grunge band.

I hear a lot of things on “Walk Away,” but grunge is not the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, if not for the mention of “Seattle sound,” I would have no idea where the band was from. To be fair, even though the band hails from Seattle, they describe themselves as “100% PURE AMERICAN ROCK!”

Rane Stone is a rangy vocalist that has that “it factor.” A hint of rasp conjures up thoughts of Axl Rose, and the soulful, southern rock influence is reminiscent of the late Ronnie Van Zant. Guns N’ Roses meets Lynyrd Skynyrd? I’d say that the band is more than living up to their billing of “100% PURE AMERICAN ROCK!” Klover Jane may call Seattle home, but this is a band that should be garnering attention throughout the United States and beyond.

Technical death metal band from Colorado is back with a new album – Proponent for Sentience – that features one amazing cover song. As you can probably imagine, “Subdivisions” by Rush is not an easy song to cover. It is progressive rock at its best. Allegaeon certainly does it justice by injecting their musical talents into this song. Every band member pulls their own weight without having to sound like Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson or Neil Peart. “Subdivisions” performed by a technical death metal band…I think Rush would approve.

2016 has been a great year for old-school thrash bands releasing new albums, including Testament. Brotherhood of the Snake is the new single from the band’s 11th studio album of the same name. Testament is one of the pioneers of the Bay Area thrash scene, and this is them at their best. The current lineup is a mixture of former and original members. Chuck Billy sounds just as great now as he did 30 years ago. Steve DiGiorgio is back on bass, and guitar virtuosos Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson have created some of the most epic memorable riffs and solos. To top it off, Gene Hoglan (the “Atomic Clock”) is back drumming for these thrash giants. 2016 has been a great year for thrash music indeed!

Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, California Breed, etc…that’s one loaded resume! Pad that with some amazing solo material, like this opener from his upcoming solo album, Resonate (due out November 4th). Fans call this legendary vocalist/bassist “The Voice of Rock,” and there’s no doubting that he’s gone back to his rock roots in recent years. He has suggested that this album may be the heaviest he’s ever made, and this opener certainly lives up to its title.

British heavy metal band Grim Reaper had some hit albums in the ‘80s before disbanding for nearly 20 years. Frontman Steve Grimmett formed the band again 10 years ago, playing small venues and rock festivals, and now, for the first time in nearly 30 years, they have released a new album. Grimmett is the only original member, but his vocals are still clean and powerful, and the rest of the band captures that classic Reaper sound.

Redemption continues atop the ranks of prog metal. “Thirty Silver,” from their latest album Art of Loss, is a tremendous composition embodying the passion and emotion of betrayal. A momentous introduction with powerful, wailing guitar work sets the profound tone of the track that features a guest appearance by Marty Friedman (Megadeth). The forceful percussion and rhythm maintains the tension right through to the end. Excellent performances all-around on this track.

Acoustic calm gives way to intensity in this new track from Logar’s Diary’s third studio album, At the Crossroads. This German power metal outfit is a conceptual band narrating adventures of the magician Logar, a character from the roleplaying game, Earthdawn. The track is driven by deft and aggressive percussion, traditional metal rhythms and classical reprises that carry the fantasy theme. Melodic vocals and choruses round out this tell-tale tune.

Thanks!

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